Photo: Gabriel Barrera Maffioletti / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-legged Owl
Strix rufipes
Rufous-legged Owl (Strix rufipes) — Owls of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-legged Owl (Strix rufipes) is a member of the Strigidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 380 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Strix
- Species rufipes
Quick facts
- Weight
- 380 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-legged Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous-legged Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-legged Owl (Strix rufipes) is a member of the Strigidae family, within the order Strigiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA c Chile to Tierra del Fuego.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 380 g, with a wing length of about 25.9 cm and a tail of around 14.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 639,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-legged Owl?
The Rufous-legged Owl is a large bird that weighs around 380 g.
Where does the Rufous-legged Owl live?
The Rufous-legged Owl is found across South America with a range covering SA c Chile to Tierra del Fuego, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous-legged Owl belong to?
The Rufous-legged Owl (Strix rufipes) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Rufous-legged Owl eat?
The Rufous-legged Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Rufous-legged Owl migrate?
The Rufous-legged Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-legged Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous-legged Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-legged Owl — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-legged Owl's range?
The Rufous-legged Owl has a mapped global range of about 639,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.